Nov. 11, 2024
Shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other names are only a few of the many names given to oil seals. They are simple components used in rotary shaft machinery to keep oil from leaking and impurities like dust, dirt, and water out. However, an oil seal’s most crucial role is to safeguard all ball, sleeve, and roller bearing types found in rotating shafts. Additionally, the seals stop blending two fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as water and oil.
A mechanical tool called an oil seal keeps lubricant from leaking out of the machine. It accomplishes its goal by sealing the equipment’s moving and stationary parts. Additionally, it prevents impurities from getting inside the machine and shortens its lifespan, an important role it completes.
Numerous oil seals exist, including PTFE lip oil seals, rubber fabric oil seals, and rotating V-seals.
An oil seal kit is a set of oil seals with the necessary dimensions and desired characteristics. An oil seal kit is more cost-effective and advantageous than buying individual oil seals.
Oil or other seals can be used for grease and oil seals. A flexible lip, radial lip, or rotating shaft seal are different names for an oil seal. Single lip, double lip, triple lip, and four or more lips are frequent configurations.
Double dust lip seal
A seal with a garter spring design is the Double Dust Lip (DDL) seal. It has two dust lips, as the name would imply, plus a fluid lip with a garter spring to keep the lip firmly attached to the wear ring. Given the ongoing evolution of bearing seal designs, this seal would be considered a starting seal. For more than 50 years, this design has been the workhorse of the freight business; it still is in some regions. NBC Brenco Bearing Seal performs the fundamental task of keeping contaminants and grease out. Because of the garter spring, this seal would add the most torque and temperature to the bearing.
Efficiency plus bearing seals
Due to eliminating the fluid lip using poly inserts and rotors, the Efficiency Plus (EP) seal has a reduced torque value of fewer than 15 in-lbs. Although it features a triple dust lip rather than a double dust lip, the dust lip is still a molded component of the design. A labyrinth-like insert and rotor interlock each other to replace the fluid lip. NBC Brenco labyrinth provides excellent grease while lowering the torque required to rotate the seal.
Other types of oil seal and grease seals include:
Single lip oil seal
Metal cased
All rubber or polymers
Internal orientation
External orientation
Axial orientation
Spring-energized
Purpose of oil seal
To serve as a physical barrier that keeps the lubricant in the designated area.
To stop the lubricating oil from leaking outside despite high oil pressure.
Act as a barrier to keep debris, contaminants, and other outside elements out of the system containing the lubricating oil.
Why are sealed bearings favored over the unsealed alternative? Why ought sealed ball bearings be preferred to unsealed ones? What advantages can sealed ball bearings offer?
Worry-free lubrication
No contact
Self-contained
What are bearing isolators?
Dynamic seals called bearing isolators are used to shield bearings from external impurities. They are revolving (rotor) and stationary (stator) elements. O-rings or strong seals are used in some bearing isolators, while they are constructed like labyrinths in others.
Different types of bearing seals
For many bearings, a good bearing seal is essential. Bearing seals perform a dual function by keeping lubricants from leaking out while preventing impurities from entering your parts. Both procedures can help your bearings last longer, but choosing the proper seals for your components is critical. Different types of bearing seals include:
Contact seals
No-contact seals
Labyrinth seals
Pick the proper seal for your bearing with the NBC bearing
.
Several variables, including maximum temperatures, required lubricants, available space, and more, may influence your choice of bearing seal. Each factor can affect the type of bearing best for your application, the amount of material required, and other factors.
Although the choice of seals is crucial to the effectiveness of your bearings, you don’t have to make that choice alone. Our experts at NBC bearings can collaborate with you to identify the bearings and bearing seals that provide the best, most affordable solution for your application, environment, and finished product.
All About Oil Seals
Oil seals go by many names, such as shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other variations of these. They are essentially simple devices used in rotary shaft equipment to prevent lubricant from escaping and for excluding contaminants such as dust, dirt and water. An oil seal’s most important function, however, is that it protects every type of ball, sleeve and roller bearing in the rotating shafts. The seals also prevent the integration of two different fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as oil and water.
The basic principle of an oil seal is fairly straightforward. It is installed adjacent to the bearing, with the flexible lip against the rotating shaft and the casing pressed into the housing to hold the seal in place. It’s important that the sealing lip is lubricated to prevent it from overheating as a result of any generated friction. It’s also crucial to understand which type of seal is appropriate for your particular machinery. Before selecting your seal, consider the environment, temperature, pressure and shaft speed of your machine, as well as the type of medium the seal will come into contact with during operation. These considerations will all determine the size, colour, and type of lip material or sealing element to choose, and whether it can be sealed in or sealed out.
Oil seals are made from multiple compounds and materials. Some of the oldest, still in use today, are leather and felt compounds. The trend in mass production, however, has seen a move towards synthetic rubber or elastomers. Nitrile is by far the most popular material but developments in PTFE have created a surge of interest in buyers needing seals for high-speed shaft rotation applications. Viton is taking over from the polyacrylic and silicone, as it works better in high-temperature applications and has a high-resistance to abrasion and harmful chemicals.
There are various sizes of industrial and ordinary oil seals, ranging from 0 to 33cm (13in). These varieties are also designed for different temperatures. As long as your seal matches the original equipment it’s intended for, you can be sure your machine will perform at its best. For further guidance and information regarding oil seals, don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team. We are always available to assist you with your bearing, seal and gasket needs.
Also known as a Rotary Shaft Seal, Shaft Seal, Lip Seal, Elastomeric Lip Seal or any variation of these. It is a simple device for excluding dust, dirt, water or any other contaminant whilst retaining lubricant in rotary shaft equipment. Generally, it has been developed as a means of protecting the bearings of rotating shafts.
In this blog, we attempt to highlight what are Oil Seals and the various Rotary Shaft Seals including Mechanical Face Seals, Water Pump Seals, Gland Packings, and V-Seals that are readily available.
The basic principle of sealing is straightforward – the flexible lip is held against the rotating part (usually the shaft) whilst the casing (or O.D.) is pressed into the housing or bore and holds the seal in place. The sealing lip needs some form of lubrication to avoid overheating and is usually energized by means of a garter spring.
Many – too numerous to list, covering a vast range of designs, sizes, and materials suitable for a never-ending range of applications. Some designs conform to International Standards such as BS1399 and DIN 3760 for metric sizes and seal types, but the majority have been manufactured to suit particular applications – hence the enormous selection available. This blog is intended to assist in this selection and will consider seal type, materials, and sizes.
The simplest way is to know either the preferred manufacturers part number, the overall sizes of shaft diameter, housing diameter and bore depth, or use our brochure to establish the M Barnwell Services ordering reference. Many of the old traditional names of seal manufacturers have either changed or disappeared in this age of “acquisitions”. If no longer available, we will advise you and offer a suitable alternative seal, from stock whenever possible. If your concern is getting the right seals for the job, you will need to know something about the application as well as the overall sizes. If you have any doubts – contact us, we will help in your seal selection.
Leather is probably the oldest of the lip materials still in common use, but the move towards mass production methods has seen a massive increase in the development of synthetic rubbers which lend themselves to accurate and repeatable injection and compression moulding. Nitrile (NBR) is still by far the most common elastomer for “normal” use, whilst Viton® (FKM/FPM) is rapidly replacing Polyacrylate (ACM) and Silicone (VMQ) for high-temperature applications. Viton® also has high resistance to abrasion and chemical attack making it a preferred elastomer. Recent developments in the use of PTFE for Rotary shaft seals has caused widespread interest particularly for high-speed shaft rotation or poor lubrication applications.
Once you have selected the most suitable seal available, considering the environment, temperature, shaft speed, pressure, lubrication availability, as well as the size, of course, the seal should be stored adequately and then fitted properly. Here are a few suggestions that could help:-
There is a British Standard laid down for the control of synthetic rubbers. BS 3574 (1989) helps to determine shelf life – for instance, Nitrile (NBR) and Polyacrylic (ACM) are Group ‘B’ rubbers and have a 7-year life, whilst Silicone (VMQ) and Fluoroelastomers (Viton®) are Group ‘C’ rubbers and have a 10-year shelf life. PTFE and Leather do not come into this category but like the others should be kept in the original packing for as long as possible away from direct light, dust, and humidity. Ozone, which can also be produced by battery-driven forklift trucks has a very bad effect on synthetic rubbers. Finally, protect the sealing lip – DO NOT hang the seals on nails, wire etc.
If the seal is being fitted to original equipment you may have some influence over the shaft and housing bore finish, but if you are replacing a worn seal you still need to take into account the condition of these 2 essential parts. Check for sharp edges and burrs – particularly on the shaft and housing chamfers or you could ruin the seal before you start up. If the shaft is too worn consider using an M Barnwell Services Shaft Repair Kit.
For more information on the characteristics of Oil Seals click on some of the links below:
For more information visit our Oil Seals page, download the brochure or contact us today.
Shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other names are only a few of the many names given to oil seals. They are simple components used in rotary shaft machinery to keep oil from leaking and impurities like dust, dirt, and water out. However, an oil seal’s most crucial role is to safeguard all ball, sleeve, and roller bearing types found in rotating shafts. Additionally, the seals stop blending two fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as water and oil.
A mechanical tool called an oil seal keeps lubricant from leaking out of the machine. It accomplishes its goal by sealing the equipment’s moving and stationary parts. Additionally, it prevents impurities from getting inside the machine and shortens its lifespan, an important role it completes.
Numerous oil seals exist, including PTFE lip oil seals, rubber fabric oil seals, and rotating V-seals.
An oil seal kit is a set of oil seals with the necessary dimensions and desired characteristics. An oil seal kit is more cost-effective and advantageous than buying individual oil seals.
Oil or other seals can be used for grease and oil seals. A flexible lip, radial lip, or rotating shaft seal are different names for an oil seal. Single lip, double lip, triple lip, and four or more lips are frequent configurations.
Double dust lip seal
A seal with a garter spring design is the Double Dust Lip (DDL) seal. It has two dust lips, as the name would imply, plus a fluid lip with a garter spring to keep the lip firmly attached to the wear ring. Given the ongoing evolution of bearing seal designs, this seal would be considered a starting seal. For more than 50 years, this design has been the workhorse of the freight business; it still is in some regions. NBC Brenco Bearing Seal performs the fundamental task of keeping contaminants and grease out. Because of the garter spring, this seal would add the most torque and temperature to the bearing.
Efficiency plus bearing seals
Due to eliminating the fluid lip using poly inserts and rotors, the Efficiency Plus (EP) seal has a reduced torque value of fewer than 15 in-lbs. Although it features a triple dust lip rather than a double dust lip, the dust lip is still a molded component of the design. A labyrinth-like insert and rotor interlock each other to replace the fluid lip. NBC Brenco labyrinth provides excellent grease while lowering the torque required to rotate the seal.
Other types of oil seal and grease seals include:
Single lip oil seal
Metal cased
All rubber or polymers
Internal orientation
External orientation
Axial orientation
Spring-energized
Purpose of oil seal
To serve as a physical barrier that keeps the lubricant in the designated area.
To stop the lubricating oil from leaking outside despite high oil pressure.
Act as a barrier to keep debris, contaminants, and other outside elements out of the system containing the lubricating oil.
Why are sealed bearings favored over the unsealed alternative? Why ought sealed ball bearings be preferred to unsealed ones? What advantages can sealed ball bearings offer?
Worry-free lubrication
No contact
Self-contained
What are bearing isolators?
Dynamic seals called bearing isolators are used to shield bearings from external impurities. They are revolving (rotor) and stationary (stator) elements. O-rings or strong seals are used in some bearing isolators, while they are constructed like labyrinths in others.
Different types of bearing seals
For many bearings, a good bearing seal is essential. Bearing seals perform a dual function by keeping lubricants from leaking out while preventing impurities from entering your parts. Both procedures can help your bearings last longer, but choosing the proper seals for your components is critical. Different types of bearing seals include:
Contact seals
No-contact seals
Labyrinth seals
Pick the proper seal for your bearing with the NBC bearing
.
Several variables, including maximum temperatures, required lubricants, available space, and more, may influence your choice of bearing seal. Each factor can affect the type of bearing best for your application, the amount of material required, and other factors.
Although the choice of seals is crucial to the effectiveness of your bearings, you don’t have to make that choice alone. Our experts at NBC bearings can collaborate with you to identify the bearings and bearing seals that provide the best, most affordable solution for your application, environment, and finished product.
Oil seals are vital to the daily operation of most factories and a wide range of industrial and commercial equipment. They are available in imperial and metric dimensions for both single- and double-lip design. Motors, Mechanical Hydraulic systems, pistons, and pumps utilize oil seals to protect internal components. Depending on the application, there are various material, size, and configuration options to best fit your needs. Learn more about oil seals, their composition, and the wide range of advantages they offer for your equipment.
What Is an Oil Seal, and What Are Its Elements?
An oil seal has two tasks: Keeping the lubricant in and keeping dirt and contaminants out of rotating components. This separation must be accomplished between surfaces in relative motion, usually a shaft or bearing inner ring and a housing. With correct installation, oil seals can also prevent seal leakage and maintain the lubricity of a bearing to ensure that the rotary shaft and its bearings remain fully functional.
A typical oil seal consists of three common parts: an outer ring, the sealing element, and a spring. The exterior metal ring component provides strength and rigidity to the oil seal in the bore or recessed groove. Attached to that ring is the sealing element. This flexible interior component of the oil seal, the O-ring, prevents any fluid leaks between the shaft and housing. A spring ensures the constant pressure that deforms the O-ring, creating a reliable seal while maintaining radial force on the shaft.
Generally, oil seals vary in materials and types based on the corresponding application. Common materials include:
Nitrile Buna-N 70. NBR is compatible with numerous environmental conditions and is also relatively cost-efficient, which makes it one of the most popular and best-suited materials for the industry. Nitrile works well in the -30° to 250° F range and when exposed to anything from water and hydraulic fluids to gas, silicone, vegetable, or animal oils.
Fluoropolymer. FKMs, or Viton®, are perfect for high-temperature applications up to approximately 400° F. Additionally, they feature low compression characteristics. Seals of this material are highly resistant to solvents, gas, and petroleum or transmission oils, so they are a good fit for applications around these materials.
Silicone. Vinyl-methyl-silicones (VMQs) maintain performance in temperatures from -140° to 392° F. In addition, silicone is resistant to adverse weather conditions, light, and ozone. The healthcare and food industry sectors, as well as pneumatic and hydraulic systems, often use silicone.
Polyacrylate. Polyacrylate is a good combination of quality and cost benefits. It is highly resistant to oxidation and heated oil, withstanding temperatures from -25° F to 300° F. This material has applications in vehicle transmissions, shaft seals, O-rings, and more.
What Benefits Do Oil Seals Provide?
Oil seals can offer:
Low levels of friction. The lubrication within the seal ensures that the seal lip does not come into contact with the rotary shaft, eliminating the risk of burning or wear.
Compact size and lightweight. Oil seals possess a small and lightweight design, which belies their strong endurance capabilities.
Reliable, rugged performance. Even under harsh conditions or extreme temperatures, these durable components will maintain their seal.
Simple construction. Easy to handle and assemble, oil seals only take a matter of minutes to replace as technicians do not have to take a machine apart.
Versatility. Standard lip seals are best for applications within dry environments, or those lacking lubrication. Oil seals can act as an alternative with increased functionality.
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Why Should You Choose Emerson for Your Oil Seal Needs?
Choosing high-quality oil seals for your roller bearings, precision bearings, and more is an important decision, so at Emerson Bearing Company, we do more than manufacture oil seals. We draw from over 50 years of expertise in the area of bearings and bearing-related components so that our team can help you choose the right oil seals for your exact needs, regardless of the nature and complexity of your application. Should we not have a particular part in stock in our vast inventory, we also utilize a worldwide sourcing network to deliver on premium products. The Emerson team strives to provide a one-stop experience for our customers, from sourcing and budgeting to assistance in oil seal selection and timely delivery with same-day shipping options.
Our oil seals serve a wide array of industrial sectors both domestically and internationally, and we offer the following as part of our online product catalog:
We also believe very strongly in providing superior customer service and are here to support you 24 hours a day. Contact us to learn more about our oil seals and additional services.
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FOUNDED IN 1993
China SBT Oil Seal is an international company integrating design, research and development, production and processing.
No. 68, Hua'an Street, Renze District, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, China
+86 188 0309 4557
Won many honorary certificates through a number of patented inventions
